Bulykin: Russian athletes need to return sooner

Football expert Dmitry Bulykin recently commented in an interview on FIFA President Gianni Infantino's views regarding the restrictions imposed on Russian sports. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

He also commented on reports that the International Olympic Committee might ease sanctions against Russia. This was reported by the euro-football.ru website.

According to Bulykin, the issue of returning Russian athletes to international competitions by 2028 is under discussion. He hopes this process will apply to football sooner.

However, he emphasized that some teams refusing to play matches against the Belarus national team is a negative trend. The expert believes that if FIFA and UEFA take strict measures, such cases may not become widespread.

Bulykin also stated that even if the International Olympic Committee lifts sanctions, this will not directly affect football. According to him, the Olympic movement and the football system are different, but in both areas, Russian athletes should return to competitions as soon as possible.

Addressing FIFA President Infantino's statement calling Russia's suspension "illogical," Bulykin noted that such remarks have been made before, but no practical decisions have yet been taken. Nevertheless, he expressed hope that the process will soon move in a positive direction and that Russian athletes will participate in international competitions under their own flag and anthem.

The FIFA head also mentioned that in the future, it should be legally prohibited to exclude athletes from competitions for political reasons. Supporting this initiative, Bulykin emphasized that football must remain independent from politics.

The expert also noted the necessity of accelerating the process by at least returning youth and women's teams to the international arena. He said that allowing everyone to participate in competitions at once would be the most appropriate solution.